Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Owens Community College volleyball head coach Sonny Lewis has collected his fair share of awards during his 24 seasons with the Express.
Lewis recently added another honor as one of the first coaches to receive the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award, which recognizes the all-time winningest coaches in the association’s history.
“It’s a great honor to receive this award and for Owens to be recognized nationally,” Lewis said. “It says a lot about the work ethic of the players and teams that have played at Owens. This is something that I really like doing, and I think that has led to much of the success of the Owens volleyball program.”
Lewis added that he shares the award with all of the players and coaches who have been a part of the Express program, including Denny Caldwell, Shelli Smith, Steve Boston, Alison Mugler and Jodi Jesion.
He was one of 13 volleyball coaches to be recognized with the award, and one of only nine to spend his entire career with one school. There were approximately 200 coaches across 28 sports on the list.
For a complete list of honorees, please visit this link.
Lewis’ Express finished 22-14 last season and earned a spot in the NJCAA Division III national tournament, finishing eighth. Lewis won the 800th game of his career during the season, as well, now sitting with a career record of 807-240. He is second in wins among active coaches.
Under Lewis, the Express has won three NJCAA Division III national titles in 2018, 2019 and 2021, finishing second twice (2017 and 2022). They’ve made 12 national championship appearances while winning 19 OCCAC titles.
He was named the NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 2018. He’s won 12 OCCAC Coach of the Year honors. Lewis was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2022.
“The NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award recognition of Coach Lewis is a tremendous honor that signifies his success and dedication to the game,” Owens athletic director Shelley Whitaker said. “Over his career, Coach Lewis has developed the Express volleyball program into a perennial national contender and put Owens Community College in the spotlight at the conference, regional and national levels.
"Outside of court wins, the volleyball program has been synonymous with success in the classroom as well, matriculating student-athletes through programs to degree attainment and into the local workforce.”
All honorees will be recognized at a special luncheon on Tuesday, June 17, in Charlotte, N.C., preceding the 2025 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event.
